Brighten up your complexion, send pesky age spots packing and more with this smart advice

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Get Glowing Skin

Get Glowing Skin

Over the years, dark patches and other discoloration will try to sabotage your best efforts to look fresh-faced. The culprit: time spent unprotected in the sun, which causes melanin to increase and clump together on the top layer of your skin, explains dermatologist Doris Day, MD, founder of MyClearSkin.com. Add to this the fact that, as you get older, skin doesn't shed its uppermost layer as frequently, and you have the recipe for age spots.

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The Dermatologist's Diagnosis

The Dermatologist's Diagnosis

Barring a surprise discovery of the fountain of youth, caring for aging skin needs to start with an ounce of daily sun damage prevention. "Don't step outside without slathering on a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 30," recommends Dr. Day. And use the right skincare products to load up on vitamin C. "It fights wrinkles and evens out skin tone," Dr. Day says.

Get Glowing Skin

Over the years, dark patches and other discoloration will try to sabotage your best efforts to look fresh-faced. The culprit: time spent unprotected in the sun, which causes melanin to increase and clump together on the top layer of your skin, explains dermatologist Doris Day, MD, founder of MyClearSkin.com. Add to this the fact that, as you get older, skin doesn't shed its uppermost layer as frequently, and you have the recipe for age spots.

Chayo Mata

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The Dermatologist's Diagnosis

Barring a surprise discovery of the fountain of youth, caring for aging skin needs to start with an ounce of daily sun damage prevention. "Don't step outside without slathering on a moisturizer that has an SPF of at least 30," recommends Dr. Day. And use the right skincare products to load up on vitamin C. "It fights wrinkles and evens out skin tone," Dr. Day says.

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The Home Remedy

Try Dr. Day's brightening cucumber mask recipe. Brew a cup of white tea (full of antioxidants), add 2 Tbsp each of honey and aloe (for moisture) and 1 tsp of fresh lemon juice (your dose of vitamin C). Stir the ingredients together and add a sliced cucumber before refrigerating overnight. The next morning, apply the cucumber slices—their porous surface will have absorbed the other ingredients—to your face for 3 to 5 minutes.

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The Makeup Trick

Caking on a thick layer of foundation or concealer will only attract attention to an uneven complexion. A better bet is to combine a dime-size amount of a matte gel bronzer with your daily liquid foundation and smooth the mixture over your face, says Emily Kate Warren, YouBeauty.com makeup expert. "The bronzer subtly darkens the rest of your complexion so spots blend in," she explains. One to try: The Body Shop Honey Bronze Bronzing Gel for Face ($14; TheBodyShop-usa.com).

Protect Your Neck

Avoid spritzing fragrance directly on your neck or décolletage, since these areas are more prone to photosensitivity (redness or inflammation from the sun). "Over time this will lead to increased wrinkling and hyperpigmentation," says Judith Galambossi, lead skin therapist at The Erno Laszlo Institute.

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Keep Hair Shiny

The next time you boil rice, save the water—which is rich in vitamin B and antioxidants—to use as a shine treatment for aging, lackluster hair. "Jasmine rice has more starch and releases more active ingredients, but any rice will work," says New York clinical herbalist Jill Blakeway. After shampooing, pour the cooled water over your strands and massagein. Let it sit on your head for 5 minutes before rinsing clear.

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Calm Redness

Apply a light layer of plain Greek yogurt to your face weekly for 10 minutes. "The probiotics in the yogurt are both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, so they soothe sensitive skin," says Roshini Raj, MD, creator of TULA skincare.

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Boost Radiance

Dangle upside down for 3 minutes every day. Why? Doing so will send blood to your face, which delivers oxygen and nutrients—along with a lovely youthful glow, says celebrity esthetician Renee Rouleau.

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Wear Non-Metal Sunglasses

When you squint, the repeated muscle contractions cause tiny fine lines around your eyes (a.k.a. crow's-feet). Slipping on a pair of shades helps protect this delicate area, but avoid metal frames. "Sunlight can reflect off them back toward your skin and cause lines to deepen," says Galambossi.